My favorite band..."Found in the Flood!"
Hunter Van Houten, Jordan Parker Smith, Melody Michalski
and my son, Sean Simpson
They played at the Hotel Cafe' in Hollywood, Wednesday night and were amazing!
Here are three of their songs...enjoy!
December 20, 2014
December 01, 2014
Cyber Week Sale on Cheryl Simpson Jewelry
Cyber Week Sale at Cheryl Simpson Jewelry
Cyber Monday Sale 20% off all Cheryl Simpson Jewelry
Enter this code for the discount Cyber2014
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylSimpson
Check it out!
(code expires on December 6th)
November 25, 2014
Thanksgiving Sale at Cheryl Simpson Jewelry on Etsy
Just in time for Christmas...I'm having an early Thanksgiving Sale on my Etsy Shop...Cheryl Simpson Jewelry
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylSimpson
Check it out.
Enter these special codes:
THANKSGIVING2014 for a 20% discount
and
SHIPFREE2014 for free shipping on domestics sales only.
These codes are good now till November 30, 2014.
Here are some of the pieces that are available...
Saint Claire Alexander
Loudres
Miss Annalisa
Miss Jemma
Check out
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylSimpson
for many more pieces.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween
The Squirrel Hunter and
his brother, Dave wish you a
Happy Halloween!!!
February 17, 2014
San Antonio's Alamo
For over 300 years, the Alamo has been a crossroads for Texas history.
Here the Spanish colonization first took hold, Mexico armed its independence and even the Confederacy stood its ground.
Yet most come to see the place where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Although the Alamo fell in the early morning hours of March 6, 1836, the death of the Alamo defenders has come to symbolize courage and sacrifice for the cause of Liberty.
The memories of James Bowie, David Crockett, and William B. Travis are as powerful today as when the Texan Army under Sam Houston shouted "Remember the Alamo!" as it routed Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.
After our historical morning, Bonnie and I toured the River Walk. We enjoyed the warm Texas sun and a little lunch.
February 16, 2014
Austin-Maria's Xpress Tacos
Every day I drove pass this woman, she was beckoning me to come try the Tex Mex food here...
On my last morning in Austin, I decided to try Maria's Taco Xpress...
I walked in on a Sunday morning to live music. People who looked like the hippies from the 70's were up and dancing, having a great time.
There is an extensive menu of Tex Mex delights. I asked what was the most popular meal and was told...
The favorite is the Migas Taco (Eggs, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, tortilla chips and cheese) It was delicious...great salsa bar. I'm a green salsa girl and it had the right heat.
A funky interior seems to be a hot spot for those who didn't get even partying on Saturday night.
I like this mural on the outside of Maria's Xpress Tacos because I saw all of the people portrayed here dancing to the live band on the inside!
February 15, 2014
In Search of the Best Texas BBQ-Austin's The Salt Lick
Located about 20 miles outside of Austin in the hill country of Texas...it seems like you are driving out to the middle of nowhere.
I pulled into a huge parking lot where there were hardly any cars...maybe 5:15 is a little too early for dinner? A wafting smell of hickory greets you as you walk into the restaurant...a huge pit with beautiful links of sausage, beef, pork and chicken are smoking their wayto perfection.
I was seated right away and given a menu.
The story of how Salt Lick was started by Thurman Roberts is on the back of the menu....hmmmm, I wonder if we are related since my maiden name is Roberts!?!
I place my order and not even 5 minutes goes by before it is placed in front of me. After my first bite, I realized that I have found the best BBQ is Texas. The brisket just melts in your mouth with a delicious smokey flavor...the BBQ sauce, which is a mustard vinegar base sauce with just the right sweetness, is perfection. The edges of the brisket is like carmelized meat candy! I could eat a whole plateful of burnt ends! The sausage is juicy and full of smokey yumminess. The beans are tasty using the bbq sauce as its base. The cole slaw creamy and the potato salad is more like a warm smash potato salad...very different and yummy. The peach cobbler was wonderful way to end the meal.
When I finished, I realized that the restaurant had filled up. There was now a long line to get in. I heard that the wait could be two hours on the weekends...luckily I had arrived at the right time. Would I wait two hours to get into BBQ Heaven!?! You betcha!!!
This is the best BBQ place in all of Texas!
February 14, 2014
Happy Valentine's Honey
Every morning I wake up and see,
The most handsome man lying next to me.
He's the one I cherish and love,
A blessing sent from Heaven above.
I will love him as a faithful wife should,
And do everything for him I could.
I would let him know everyday,
That I love him more than words can say.
For the two children we have together,
And the love for God in each other.
It will keep our love for each other strong,
And the Lord will guide us away from all wrong.
Happy Valentine's Scott
I love you with all my mind, heart and soul!
xxoo,
Cheryl
February 13, 2014
Tombstone Thursday-Austin's Oakwood Cemetery Part 2
A cemetery is full of headstones, some plain and others elaborate. It's interesting that the symbols that decorate these stones hold many meanings for those who are left behind...the living.
A child on the headstone usually represent the untimely death of the innocent. A sleeping child is a Victorian death motif.
Frances Dieterich served in the military from the field artillery symbols. A wreath symbolizes a victory in death, saintliness and glory, eternity.
Meeting beyond the river.
Clasping hands means a farewell to earthly existence.
Weeping Willow means grief; death, earthly sorrow, the symbolic tree of human sadness, nature's lament.
A bouquet of flowers holds a wealth of symbols: A rose=love, hope and beauty...a full bloom signified someone in the prime of life. Calla Lilies represent marriage and fidelity. A Lily of the Valley signifies innocence, humility and renewal. The daisy means gentleness and innocence. And the morning glory, which suggesting mourning, mortality and farewell.
Farewell my wife...
Drapery over anything symbolizes sorrow and mourning...hand holding an open book is the embodiment of Faith...thistles represent earthly sorrow.
FLT in chain links is a symbol of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization. Stands for Friendship, Love, and Truth. Hand holding a heart means charity. Hourglass is the passage of time. An eye found in a triangle or within a sunburst. This is a masonic symbol.
A harp symbolizes praise to God. They are often carved with a broken string, representing a break in mortal life.
A hand pointing the way to heaven.
A sad epitaph.
The crown symbolizes reward of faithful, victory, triumph, glory; righteousness; resurrection. The ivy along the edge of the headstone means abiding memory, friendship, fidelity, immortality.
Daffodil means desire, art, grace, beauty, and deep regard. Hand pointing downward symbolizes mortality or sudden death.
Anchor means hope, life eternal and it may signify seafaring profession.
Death of two children.
The corn attracts birds and squirrels.
Two babies symbolized by lambs.
Ben Radkey
Stark Young Robertson
March 3, 1918-January 25, 1936
February 12, 2014
In Search of the Best Texas BBQ-Austin's County Line on the Lake
Drove out to County Line on the Lake.
Out from the main part of Austin towards the hill country,
this BBQ joint sits besides a lake full of turtles.
It was an early dinner after a day of antiquing, so I had arrive before the usual eating crowd.
I placed my order and this amazing bread came out first. Oh my...it was a freshly baked, warm, chewy piece of perfection. It had been a long time since I had eaten bread like this. I definitely wanted to take a loaf of this back to the hotel. The waitress said the best thing about this bread was making french toast with it. Unfortunately, I wasn't staying in a hotel where I could do that.
I ordered the Lite Two meat Combo...I choose the 2nd cut of brisket which is a little fatter cut and the sausage links. It comes with beans, potato salad and cole slaw. This arrived quickly. The brisket was flavorful and a little juicy. I was happy to get the 2nd cut that was marbled with some fat...the lean cut would have been too dry. The sausage was also flavorful and quite juicy. Their BBQ sauce was okay...a tomato based sauce. I like a good vinegar tomato based sauce with a little molasses. This was a little more than kethcup for me. The beans, I didn't like at all. The potato salad and cole slaw was nothing special. The BBQ meat here is good but only the bread is what I'd come back for!
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